At both events, Chancellor Cigarroa and Chancellor Sharp talked about their systems’ efforts to do more with fewer financial resources, focus on faculty retention, lower student debt and implement innovative measures to improve learning.

The University of Texas at Dallas will begin accepting students to a master’s degree program in actuarial science in September. The program is the first of its kind to be offered in Texas.

According to a UT Dallas article, college graduates who major in actuarial science can expect to be in demand in today's workforce. Starting salaries range from $44,000 to $60,000 and the average pay is $87,650.

For the third year in a row, The University of Texas-Pan American won first place at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Mariachi Invitational, defeating six professional mariachi groups from Texas that were invited to compete.The Mariachi Aztlán received a trophy and $7,500 in prize money on March 9. More than 75,000 audience members were in attendance.

Eric Olson, Ph.D., chairman of molecular biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, is the 2013 recipient of the March of Dimes Prize in Development Biology. He has identified key genetic pathways in the formation of the heart and other muscles, which can lead to treatments for heart disease and muscle dysfunction. Several drugs based on his research are under study.

Next week, 88 University of Texas at Dallas students will spend their spring break participating in one of 10 projects that range from building homes in Mississippi for Habitat for Humanity to helping international refugee children transition into the U.S. education system in Georgia.